Cory Booker kicks off campaign for Senate

NEWARK -- Newark Mayor Cory Booker, who formally declared his candidacy for U.S. Senate yesterday, now finds himself competing against like-minded Democratic congressmen in a primary that will be decided in midsummer, when low voter turnout threatens his early advantage.

Booker made his candidacy official at a news conference in New Jersey's largest city, which he has led since 2006. He is vying to fill the seat of Sen. Frank Lautenberg, who died Monday at age 89.

Reps. Frank Pallone and Rush Holt also plan to enter the Democratic primary. Candidates have until 4 p.m. Monday to file petitions with the state.

Booker, 44, said he would travel the state to earn every vote. He'll have to hurry; Gov. Chris Christie set the primary for Aug. 13 and a special election for the balance of Lautenberg's term for Oct. 16.

"We need someone in the United States Senate who's actually had to work on difficult problems, who's actually had to find people jobs, who's actually had people standing in front of their homes and had to work on everything from getting people into food stamp programs to helping young people better afford college," Booker said yesterday. A second kickoff event was planned later in the day in the predominantly minority municipality in South Jersey.

Pallone and Holt have yet to announce formal plans. Experts say the race could be an interesting one.

"It will be a question of who can get organizational support from county parties or labor -- support from those who will knock on doors and get people out to vote," said political analyst Patrick Murray of Monmouth University. Booker has the national profile and Pallone has more money banked -- $3.7 million to Booker's $1.9 million, as of the end of March.

The only Republican running so far is Steve Lonegan, a former Bogota mayor.